Arwind Santos. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
After ruling three of the last five conferences, San Miguel Beer is definitely the most dominant team in the league.
But as invincible as they may seem, the Commissioner’s Cup has been the Beermen’s kryptonite.
Last season, San Miguel was just awful as it finished in ninth place out of 12 teams and although the team has shown improvement this season, the Beermen, coming off a historic Philippine Cup championship run, were sent into a semifinals exit by Rain or Shine in humiliating fashion on Sunday.
But for San Miguel’s veteran forward Arwind Santos knows their final game of the conference, a 124-99 shellacking at the hands of the Elasto Painters, still has some positives.
“Hindi naman early exit, not bad, improving pa rin kasi ilang beses, ilang times din di kami nakapasok sa semifinals, at least nakapasok kami,” Santos said. “Sabi nga ng mga coaches, hindi lahat mananalo kami, may times na matatalo kami, kailangan matuto.”
Despite getting blown out, Santos didn’t want to dwell too much on the negativity of losing another crack at the Commissioner’s Cup title.
“Maganda nga dito, kahit naka ilang championship na kami, bawat isa sa amin mataas ang kumpyansa,” Santos said. “Minsan kailangan madapa kahit papano para mabalik dati kung san magsimula para umakyat uli kami.”